The Consequences of Hypocrisy - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
Acts 5:9-11

The Consequences of Hypocrisy
A new era had again begun in the ways of God with mankind. The Lord Jesus had died on the cross at Calvary, had been buried, had arisen, and had ascended into heaven. Forty days later on the day of Pentecost, in an upper room in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit had baptized 120 believers into one body. The Church had begun!

The Church grew fast in numbers, and spiritually: "They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers all who believed were together, and had all things in common" (Acts 2:). They sold their houses and lands and laid the proceeds at the feet of the apostles to meet the needs of all. Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus, sold his land and brought the money to the apostles.

A couple, Ananias and Sapphira, sold a possession and brought a part of the money to the apostles, keeping back the rest for themselves. They were under no compulsion to give any of it, but first Ananias, and a bit later Sapphira, pretended that they were giving the full amount. Peter confronted each of them with the solemnity of the fact that they were lying to the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus had said that the Holy Spirit would be both with and in us. First Ananias and then Sapphira fell down dead and were carried out and buried. What a shock to all who heard this!

God knows our hearts and our thoughts. He hates lying. He can see through all pretense. Where would we be if He would judge the hypocrisy we Christians often display today as He did then?

Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.